DesignGood Blog Category No. 13

Design Your Life

“Company culture” is a buzzworthy phrase that we’re guessing you’ve heard a few times. But when you get down to it, what does it really mean, and why is a positive company culture so important? San Francisco’s Elefint Designs has created a positive, inspiring and challenging company culture as part of their successful design studio….Read Post

Making a career shift is tough – there’s no doubt about that. But it can be done, and as we’ve learned, starting over is never really starting over. Austin’s Laurel Kinney is familiar with the concept of career changes – she went from social worker to fashion stylist. Anyone looking to change careers, take note – today,…Read Post

All creative people have them: those abandoned projects that make us cringe. We were so excited about them at first, but somewhere along the way, we lost that drive to bring them into the world. This week, writer and creativity blogger Stef Gonzaga has some advice on changing our procrastinating, project-abandoning ways. Stef is part…Read Post

Jen Spencer is an expert on careers. Aside from her private coaching practice, she also works with creative executives to help them succeed in their work and their business practices through leadership courses and retreats (Austin ladies – check out the Immersion Experience!). Because Jen is our go-to for all-things career related, we knew she was the…Read Post

At DesignGood, we’re huge fans of Reggie Black, and we had the honor of interviewing him for our blog. Reggie is known for the Sticky Inspiration project. He writes original messages of encouragement, creativity and love on Post-it notes and shares them with the world. (This quick video gives a great introduction to what he…Read Post

Doing creative work is full of all kinds of great moments, but it also has its share of frustrations. That’s where today’s Design Your Life post by Kevin Leahy will come in handy. Kevin is the founder and lead brain trainer at Knowledge Advocate. He’s a lawyer who litigates brain injury lawsuits and a business…Read Post

Every creative has to deal with his or her inner critic sometimes. In today’s Design Your Life, Shanna Covey tells us what’s really going on with that ugly voice in our heads and how to respond to it. Shanna is a coach and the author of A Call to the Heart: Shifting Out of Ego Into…Read Post

“Company culture” is a buzzworthy phrase that we’re guessing you’ve heard a few times. But when you get down to it, what does it really mean, and why is a positive company culture so important? San Francisco’s Elefint Designs has created a positive, inspiring and challenging company culture as part of their successful design studio….Read Post

You might be familiar with MATTER. Perhaps you saw them in a Design9, remember our holiday giveaway or maybe you love MATTER’s work with our friends at Conscious Magazine. However you know them, MATTER is hard to miss. Though less than a year old, this inspiring women’s indie clothing line uses flawless storytelling and, of…Read Post

It happens to all of us on the career path: We get busy, lose focus, drift away from our True North. If you’re experiencing this in your life or in your business, life coach Mike Rinehart of Your Beyond has a suggestion for something that may help you find your center. Mike’s insights come from…Read Post

Conscious Magazine tells the stories of those making a difference – people who are approaching their lives, and their work, in conscious, meaningful ways. As you might imagine, all of us at DesignGood are such fans at that we also became Conscious contributors. That’s why we’re so excited that Rachael Baxter-Lechliter, the co-founder and editor…Read Post

“Who dares, wins” – British Special Air Service “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt “Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live” – Dorothy Thompson These cliché quotes are familiar to all of us. The idea that fear holds us back, hinders us, prevents us from…Read Post

Anybody can tell you to follow your dreams. Not just anyone, though, can give you a formula for following your dreams that actually gets you where you want to go. Jennifer Hirsch can, because she’s done it herself. Jenn is the founder and “chief enthusiast officer” at Marked Point, a strategic storytelling firm that supports…Read Post

You’ve heard the rumors. Ping pong tables, pizza, in-office slides, yoga and more – who wouldn’t want to work in startups? Life in a new business isn’t always as glamorous as it seems, and it’s certainly not for everyone. Caroline Pinal of Giveback Homes (who we featured last year), tells us the four key traits…Read Post

Sole Serum is more than just a beauty product. It’s a serum with a serious aim to empower women in their daily lives, and so far it’s working. Harper’s Bazaar and Self have taken note of the product, which was also named one of the most innovative products of 2014 by Forbes. The empowered woman…Read Post

Ever feel a little disenchanted with the world of blogs? We understand. As much as we love pulling inspiration from blogs, sometimes it can feel a little…fake. Don’t get us wrong. There are plenty of incredible design blogs out there that produce genuine, quality content. EcoCult – a blog devoted to all things sustainable in NYC…Read Post

It’s a tough spot to be in: You’ve worked hard to create your career, and you’re doing pretty well — but now you’re realizing you were meant to do something else entirely. Your dream lights you up. It makes your heart race. But it’s also intimidating. It doesn’t fit your familiar self-image or others’ image…Read Post

Five years ago, David Simnick made the first batch of SoapBox Soaps products in his kitchen. Today, the brand is in stores like Whole Foods, Target, Sam’s Club and CVS all over the country. What happened in between? A lot of learning experiences that led to the business tips that Dave shares in today’s Design…Read Post

Paige Davis is one of the co-founders of BlueAvocado, the company that makes those reusable shopping and lunch bags you’re probably crazy about. Her newest venture is Soul Sparks, a destination for anyone interested in meditation and mindfulness. Paige knew she’d learned a lot through her business ventures, but then she found that the lessons…Read Post

Business is about relationships – there’s no denying that. But these days, with the rise of social media and the necessity of having a personal brand, business is personal, and maybe more so than ever. Michelle Wolfarth of artisan-focused online shop AMERICAN NOMAD has learned this in her time as a business owner and graphic designer….Read Post

You know that feeling you get after reading or seeing something that leaves you feeling completely inspired? It could be a book, movie or a piece of art. Either way, these inspirational moments should be taken seriously. Just ask Lindsey Parry, founder of 4Love Clothing. In 2012, Lindsey read the book that would change the…Read Post

In a leap of faith, Katharine Lucić and Katie Lucas decided to start a company in an industry neither had experience in. One life-threatening illness and one marriage later, and the founders of Ohm K have learned how invaluable it is to have a business partner to lean on while building a brand. Katharine and…Read Post

Two years into their business and This Bar Saves Lives has built a successful brand backed by a board of advisors (including actress and philanthropist Kristen Bell) and donated over 500,000 packets of life-saving food to children in need – all in part thanks to their loyal brand community. With help from Social Media Manager…Read Post

You came up with a great idea for a business. You even found a super-creative way to integrate social good into your business model. (This is why we love you, DesignGood-ers!) Now you’re thinking about how to spread the word about the good work you’re doing. There’s a lot of storytelling to do when you’re…Read Post